In a week that centred around their past, the Calgary Flames made it all about the future. The team announced Thursday that general manager Jay Feaster has been dismissed, along with assistant general manager John Weisbrod.
The announcement came less than 24 hours after long-time franchise cornerstone Jarome Iginla made a heart-warming return to the Saddledome. Iginla’s Bruins scored a pair of third-period goals in less than two minutes to leave with a 2-1 win.
In a press conference on Thursday, Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke gave several reasons for the removal of Feaster, who had served as general manager since December 2010 after joining the team in June of that year. Among them was the team’s tendency to blow late leads like they did against Boston, but there were several more that suggest further significant changes are coming in Calgary.
Burke discussed Feaster’s drafting decisions and trades, as well as his desire to build a team capable of playing “black and blue hockey” (And yes, the word “truculent” was used). He expressed his dissatisfaction and impatience with Calgary’s rebuild up to this point, and explained that Feaster and Weisbrod’s removals were carried out in the interest of speeding up the process and building a winning team.
Burke’s team-building success is well-documented, as is his propensity for making trades. TSN’s Darren Dreger has already discussed the Phil Kessel trade from Burke’s time in Toronto, in which the Maple Leafs gave up a first and a second round draft pick, and hypothesized that Burke might soon look for a transaction of a similar nature. If that’s the case, Burke absolutely cannot allow his impatience to define his actions; after years of finishing in the middle of the pack, Calgary seems to be in an excellent position to draft high in the next couple of selections. The temptation to risk drafting position on an enticing trade could become intense, especially to a man known for his wheeling and dealing, but with the likes of Aaron Ekblad and Connor McDavid on the horizon, Burke had better be darn sure of any transaction that includes his organization’s picks.
In his address to the media, Burke made it abundantly clear that he intends to improve Calgary’s physicality. He spoke to their lack of size and girt, and explained that it would take a far more hostile style of play to be successful. He made it equally clear that any and all assets deemed movable would indeed be moved, which makes one wonder how soon the changes in the front office will be reflected on the ice. It also clouds the fates of smaller, skilled players like Sven Baertschi. Barely a few hours after the press conference, Burke reassigned the Flames’ 2011 first-round pick to the AHL. A scoring winger, Baertschi has struggled to produce this year and has been repeatedly criticized for his two-way game, especially by Burke. With Feaster out and Burke in, Baertschi’s name could soon be featuring in trade talks.
When he first joined the organization this off-season, many speculated that Burke would eventually assume Feaster’s responsibilities. But Burke assured the media that his tenure as general manager will be an interim one and that the search for a permanent replacement was already under way.
Burke will be looking for several qualities in Calgary’s new general manager. Experience will likely be required, though not in a general manager’s role. Burke will be looking to fill the position with a younger individual whom he can mentor, and that brings expertise to the draft floor. The list of candidates is similar to that of the Buffalo Sabres, who are also searching for a new GM, but there are also strong speculations surrounding a name that’s familiar to the C of Red.
Flames legend Joe Nieuwendyk has already emerged as the front-runner for the position, and Calgary has reportedly already been granted permission to speak with him. Nieuwendyk’s four years of experience as general manager of the Dallas Stars would obviously be a major asset, and he would enjoy far more financial freedom building the Flames’ roster than he did in Dallas. Dreger seems particularly confident in Nieuwendyk’s landing the job, and given his track record and Nieuwendyk’s place in Flames canon, it would be something of a surprise if the former Calgary captain isn’t running the ship before long.
Burke told the media that no further staffing changes would be made this season, and praised the coaching staff for their efforts thus far. He also dispelled any worries about the future of Craig Conroy, whom he mentioned while discussing Weisbrod’s former position. Conroy served as special assistant to Jay Feaster, and his familiarity with the organization will be invaluable to relative newcomer Burke and Feaster’s eventual replacement.
But aside from the coaches and Conroy, just about everything else in the Flames’ future seems cloudy. The message has been sent, loud and clear: “changes need to be made, and they will be made…quickly”. But to what extent will such changes be made? Who will be the new general manager? What will moves, if any, will Brian Burke have made by the time the job is filled? With Feaster gone, who’s next? Already in the midst of one of the most tumultuous points in its history, these are just a few of the questions this franchise needs answered as it heads into what promises to be an extremely intriguing new year.
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